Compatibility is crucial when it comes to choosing the right LED driver. Your lights may stop working and potentially cause harm to the system's components if the wrong driver is utilized with an LED system. However, choosing the best driver for LED lights will depend on a variety of factors, including the voltage, wattage, and purpose of the lights you'll be installing. Therefore, picking the best one isn't always easy.
What is an LED driver?
The electricity used to 'drive' runs of LED strip lights is controlled and supplied by LED Lighting Drivers. They work similarly to conventional transformers by converting 240 volts of mains voltage into a smaller voltage, often 12 or 24 volts. However, drivers for LED lights also convert the alternating current (AC) from the mains into the continuous direct current (DC) that LEDs require to operate. Drivers for LED lights control the power provided to the lights so that the voltage is constant by regulating their output in accordance with the electrical characteristics of the LED tape, which change as it heats up.
Why do you need a driver for LED lights?
Because LEDs require a constant direct current of 12 or 24 volts, which is significantly lower than the voltage that the mains power supplies, all LED lights need a driver to convert the power supply into one that is more suitable for LEDs. By doing this, the risk of fire and burnout is decreased.
Do all LED lights need a driver?
A driver should be attached to every LED strip light. Only LED lighting designed particularly to be controlled by a mains power source, such as mains voltage tape or LED bulbs, is an exception.
Types of Drivers for LED Lights
Constant voltage LED drivers and constant current LED drivers are the two different types of drivers for LED lights, and they each have unique uses.
For LEDs that require a constant current yet can endure a variety of voltages, constant current drivers are created. They function by adjusting the voltage delivered to the light in order to keep the current constant. For LED downlights or highly powered LEDs, a constant current driver works best because they can regulate the electrical current.
For LED lights that require a constant voltage (of either 12 or 24 volts) but already have their current controlled by another safety device, such as a resistor, a constant voltage driver is used. These drivers work well with LED lighting that has vivid colors and requires a consistent voltage to stay vibrant.
What voltage driver do I need?
All LED strip lights have a power need of either 12v or 24v, which is specified in their specs. Make sure the driver you purchase has the output voltage the tape demands. The LEDs will initially appear brighter when running 12v tape with a 24v driver, however, the increased voltage will gradually wear down the tape. The LEDs won't light up at all when 24v tape is used with a 12v driver.
Be it drivers for LED lights, LED diffusers, Lifud Drivers, or Signage Power Supply, you will find them all at Wellforces Ltd.
What driver wattage do I need?
A driver's wattage provides information about its maximum output capacity. We advise selecting a driver that can handle at least 10% more power than the LED tape's wattage. As a result, the lighting system may last longer.
The electricity an LED tape uses varies depending on its length since the wattage of a tape is the amount of power the tape uses per meter. Simply multiply the tape's wattage by the number of meters you are running to get how many watts are required for your run of tape. You can select a suitable driver after you know the wattage of the tape run.
Therefore, if 5m of 6w LED tape needs 30 watts of electricity, we advise selecting a driver with a 33-watt or higher output capacity to power it.
You can visit the official website of Wellforces Ltd to choose and buy from a wide range of LED Drivers.
